|
|
|
RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 4, No. 188, 00-09-28
RFE/RL NEWSLINE
Vol. 4, No. 188, 28 September 2000
CONTENTS
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT, MAJORITY BLOC SPLIT OVER SPEAKER'S RESIGNATION
[02] AZERBAIJAN DENIES VICTIMIZING REFUGEES FROM CHECHNYA, DAGHESTAN
[03] AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION PARTY ACCUSED OF MAINTAINING SECRET RADIO
TRANSMITTER
[04] GEORGIA MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF FALL OF SUKHUMI...
[05] ... AS GEORGIAN OFFICIAL CONCEDES GEORGIA STARTED ABKHAZ WAR
[06] GEORGIAN INTERIOR MINISTER ACCUSED OF ILLICIT SURVEILLANCE
[07] KYRGYZ TROOPS THWART NEW ISLAMIST INCURSION
[08] KYRGYZSTAN, UZBEKISTAN SIGN MILITARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT...
[09] ...AS UZBEK PRESIDENT SAYS CENTRAL ASIAN STATES MUST GUARANTEE OWN
SECURITY...
[10] ...ASKS FOR MOSCOW'S COOPERATION
[11] OLYMPIC MEDAL COUNT--PART 1 COUNTRIES
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[12] THOUSANDS TURN OUT FOR SERBIAN OPPOSITION
[13] KOSTUNICA HAILS SERBIAN OPPOSITION VICTORY
[14] DJINDJIC CALLS FOR GENERAL STRIKE IN SERBIA
[15] SERBIAN CROWN PRINCE DEFENDS OPPOSITION VICTORY...
[16] ...DEMANDS THAT MILOSEVIC GO
[17] SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH BACKS KOSTUNICA
[18] U.S. TO LIFT SERBIAN SANCTIONS ONCE KOSTUNICA TAKES OFFICE
[19] CROATIA WARNS AGAINST LIFTING SERBIAN SANCTIONS
[20] KOUCHNER SAYS KOSOVA READY FOR ELECTIONS
[21] MACEDONIA TO INVESTIGATE YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR
[22] CORRUPTION SPREADS TO ROMANIAN UNIVERSITIES
[23] ROMANIAN GYMNAST AT CENTER OF 'POLITICAL INDIGNATION'
[24] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT SETS CONDITIONS FOR SECOND TERM
[25] OLYMPIC MEDAL COUNT--PART 2 COUNTRIES
[C] END NOTE
[26] RUSSIA SPEAKS PAST BALTIC NEIGHBORS
[A] TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
[01] ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT, MAJORITY BLOC SPLIT OVER SPEAKER'S RESIGNATION
Five Armenian political parties, including the Republican Party of Armenia
(HHK), the senior partner in the majority Miasnutiun parliamentary bloc,
issued a statement on 27 September saying they will boycott parliamentary
sessions as long as Armen Khachatrian continues to occupy the post of
speaker, Armenpress and RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. The statement
argued that the previous day's vote in which 63 deputies approved and 31
opposed Khachatrian's resignation was valid (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 27
September 2000), and it condemned Khachatrian's refusal to step down as "an
attempt to usurp power." The Democratic Party of Armenia (HZhK), to which
Khachatrian belongs and which is the junior partner in Miasnutiun, argues
that Khachatrian's resignation should have been approved by a majority vote
of all 131 deputies. Neither the Armenian Constitution nor the parliament
statutes stipulate how many votes are required to unseat the parliamentary
speaker. LF
[02] AZERBAIJAN DENIES VICTIMIZING REFUGEES FROM CHECHNYA, DAGHESTAN
The Azerbaijani Interior Ministry and Prosecutor-General's Office have
issued a joint statement denying Chechen charges that the Azerbaijani
authorities engage in the harassment of refugees from Chechnya and
Daghestan, Turan reported on 27 September. The statement explained that six
residents of Daghestan who were extradited to Russia on 20 September were
not refugees but were wanted by Russian police on charges that include
terrorism, attempted murder of police officers, and illegal possession of
arms. Chechen field commander Shamil Basaev on 25 September condemned the
men's extradition and said the charges against them are fabricated. Basaev
appealed to the Azerbaijani leadership to put an end to what he termed
"provocative acts" by some Azerbaijani power ministry officials. LF
[03] AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION PARTY ACCUSED OF MAINTAINING SECRET RADIO
TRANSMITTER
"Yeni Azerbaycan," the newspaper of the eponymous ruling political party,
has accused the opposition Azerbaijan National Independence Party (AMIP) of
maintaining a secret radio transmitter at its headquarters in the suburbs
of Baku, Turan reported. In its 28 September issue, the paper claimed that
police and security officials searched that building late on 27 September.
An AMIP official who was the last to leave the premises on 27 September
denied both that allegation and that the party has such a transmitter.
Police and security ministry spokesmen have not confirmed the "Yeni
Azerbaycan" allegations. AMIP is one of only four parties that have been
registered to contend the 5 November parliamentary elections. LF
[04] GEORGIA MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF FALL OF SUKHUMI...
Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze and Minister of State Gia
Arsenishvili paid tribute on 27 September to those Georgian troops and
civilians killed during the 1992-1993 war in Abkhazia, Caucasus Press
reported. That war effectively ended on 27 September 1993 with the Georgian
retreat from Sukhumi, the Abkhaz capital. Shevardnadze on 27 September
repeated the claim he made two days earlier that the loss of Sukhumi was
the result of "treachery" by an individual whose name he promised to
disclose "soon." He added that "Sukhumi will be ours once again." Also on
27 September, Russia's Federation Council voted to extend for six months
the mandate of the Russian peacekeeping troops that have been deployed
under the CIS's aegis since July 1994 along the internal border between
Abkhazia and the rest of Georgia, ITAR-TASS reported. LF
[05] ... AS GEORGIAN OFFICIAL CONCEDES GEORGIA STARTED ABKHAZ WAR
Londer Tsaava, chairman of the Tbilisi-based Abkhaz government in exile,
has admitted that the war in Abkhazia was started by Georgian government
troops, adding that they did so under "provocation" from the Abkhaz side,
according to "Rezonansi" on 28 September, as cited by Caucasus Press.
Shevardnadze had admitted several years ago that the Georgian troops who
entered Sukhumi were acting against his orders. LF
[06] GEORGIAN INTERIOR MINISTER ACCUSED OF ILLICIT SURVEILLANCE
Mikhail Saakashvili, who heads the majority Union of Citizens of Georgia
(SMK) parliamentary faction, said on 26 September that Interior Minister
Kakha Targamadze has organized the clandestine surveillance of deputies
from his faction, Caucasus Press reported. Saakashvili condemned that
activity as illegal and anti-constitutional but said he would leave it to
the parliament's Legal Affairs Committee to decide whether to launch
impeachment proceedings against Targamadze. Targamadze, for his part, told
Caucasus Press that he possesses information on "numerous issues,"
including the situation within the SMK. Targamadze and the "reformers'
wing" within the SMK have been at odds over the latter's proposal to amend
legislation on fees for the mandatory inspection of all vehicles for
roadworthiness. Targamadze, Saakashvili, and parliamentary speaker Zurab
Zhvania have been identified as potential presidential candidates once
Shevardnadze ends his current second term. LF
[07] KYRGYZ TROOPS THWART NEW ISLAMIST INCURSION
Kyrgyz government troops repelled an attempt by 10 Islamic militants to
advance into Kyrgyz territory during the night of 26-27 September, ITAR-
TASS reported on 27 September, citing the Kyrgyz Defense Ministry's press
service. One Kyrgyz serviceman was injured in the fighting. The ministry
claimed to control fully those regions of Kyrgzystan that border on
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. LF
[08] KYRGYZSTAN, UZBEKISTAN SIGN MILITARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT...
Kyrgyz and Uzbek government representatives signed an agreement on 27
September in Bishkek, Russian agencies reported. According to Kyrgyzstan's
President Askar Akaev, it is the first such bilateral agreement to be
signed between two Central Asian states. Akaev added that the agreement
will contribute to both countries' ability to ensure security not only on
their own territory but throughout the region. Akaev and his visiting Uzbek
counterpart, Islam Karimov, also signed a joint statement calling on
Afghanistan's warring Taliban and Northern Alliance "to achieve national
reconciliation." The statement warned that the two states will "regard
hostile actions against either of the two states as a common threat to them
both" and will retaliate accordingly, ITAR-TASS reported. LF
[09] ...AS UZBEK PRESIDENT SAYS CENTRAL ASIAN STATES MUST GUARANTEE OWN
SECURITY...
President Karimov told Interfax on 27 September that if the states of
Central Asia do not take the initiative in improving their armed forces and
border guards, no outside power will help them do so. He said that unnamed
countries that do not border on Afghanistan are deluding themselves that
they are not at risk. "Aggression today is taking the form of creeping
expansion, and bandit formations can pop up anywhere," Interfax quoted
Karimov as saying. He criticized the UN Security Council for concentrating
its attention on Kosova and Bosnia, while ignoring the situation in
Afghanistan, and he called on the council to draft and implement urgent
measures to prevent a further escalation of the Afghan civil war. LF
[10] ...ASKS FOR MOSCOW'S COOPERATION
President Karimov also told Interfax that maintaining peace in Central Asia
is contingent on Moscow's dovetailing its policies in the region with those
of the states of Central Asia. "As president of Uzbekistan, I recognize
Russia's interests in Central Asia. These interests have to be protected,
but they also need to be discussed with the leaders of the Central Asian
states. We need to know what Russia will be doing tomorrow in our region
and how it will defend its interests. Russia has to pursue a serious and
well-thought-through policy in Central Asia," Interfax quoted him as
saying. LF
[11] OLYMPIC MEDAL COUNT--PART 1 COUNTRIES
Through 28 SEPTEMBER
CountryGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Russia19172157 Georgia0044
Kazakhstan1102 Armenia0022
Azerbaijan1001 Kyrgyzstan0011
Tajikistan0000
Turkmenistan0000
Uzbekistan0000
[B] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
[12] THOUSANDS TURN OUT FOR SERBIAN OPPOSITION
In central Belgrade on 27 September, some 200,000 people attended a
demonstration of support for Vojislav Kostunica, who is the Democratic
Opposition of Serbia's (DOS) candidate for the Yugoslav presidency (see
"RFE/RL Newsline," 27 September 2000). Several journalists' reports of the
gathering described the mood as "festive" and "determined." Demonstrations
also took place in Novi Sad, Nis, Kraljevo, Kragujevac, and Leskovac. The
protesters back the opposition's claim that it won an outright victory in
the first round of voting, with 52.5 percent of the total compared with 35
percent for Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, RFE/RL's South Slavic
Service reported. The state-run Election Commission claims that no
candidate won an outright majority in the first round and demands that a
second round take place on 8 October. The commission has refused opposition
calls that it admit opposition monitors to check its records. In Vienna on
27 September, the OSCE called on the commission to make a precinct-by-
precinct report of the tally. PM
[13] KOSTUNICA HAILS SERBIAN OPPOSITION VICTORY
Kostunica told his supporters in Belgrade on 27 September that "we won,
despite the lies and the violence of Slobodan Milosevic," an RFE/RL
correspondent reported. Kostunica added that "we won, despite the sanctions
which we lived under for years. We won, despite the NATO bombs that fell on
this country last year. We won, despite some democrats in Serbia and
Montenegro who turned their backs on us." He stressed that he will "make no
deal" with the regime. Kostunica said the army, police, and people are "one,
" Deutsche Welle reported. He stressed that the army that "fought
heroically against NATO" will not allow itself to be used against the
people by the regime. He added that "the EU and Russia are with us." PM
[14] DJINDJIC CALLS FOR GENERAL STRIKE IN SERBIA
Zoran Djindjic, who is the campaign manager of the DOS, told a Novi Sad
radio station on 28 September that the opposition will soon issue a call to
all citizens to join a "total protest...and peaceful general strike,"
Reuters reported. "We will call on people not to send their children to
school, for theaters and cinemas not to work, for everyone to go out onto
the streets and stay on the streets until he who wants to be president by
force gives up his post," Djindjic added. Observers note that previous
attempts by the opposition to force Milosevic from office through street
protests have gradually lost momentum and failed. PM
[15] SERBIAN CROWN PRINCE DEFENDS OPPOSITION VICTORY...
Aleksandar Karadjordjevic, who is the claimant to the Serbian and Yugoslav
thrones, issued a statement in London on 27 September in which he urged
Milosevic to respect the will of the voters and leave office (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 26 September 2000). The prince called the commission's decision
to hold a second round of voting "outrageous... There is absolutely no
question that Dr. Vojislav Kostunica and the DOS are the outright majority
winners and that they have the full confidence of the people. It is
imperative that the people of Serbia remain firmly united behind Dr
Vojislav Kostunica and DOS. Beware, Mr. Slobodan Milosevic is scheming to
steal the people's vote using massive fraud and cheating. Once again, Mr.
Slobodan Milosevic has shown that he only cares about himself and perpetual
power like all dictators. Mr. Slobodan Milosevic and his regime must not be
allowed to steal what belongs to the people." PM
[16] ...DEMANDS THAT MILOSEVIC GO
Aleksandar also said in his message of 27 September that "the people of
Serbia and Montenegro have only one option and that is to unanimously
demand that Mr. Slobodan Milosevic hand over power to Dr. Vojislav
Kostunica immediately. The armed forces must act accordingly to military
honor and protect the people from the regime's deceitful behavior. I also
strongly request all institutions to unanimously support the people and not
fall into the hands of the conniving regime. I appeal to all citizens to
put their differences aside and unite against the regime. There must be no
retribution or abuse of any citizen. It is clear that Mr. Slobodan
Milosevic has no alternative, but to hand immediately the presidency in a
civilized manner to Dr. Vojislav Kostunica... Dr. Vojislav Kostunica and
his government for the people must be allowed to get on immediately with
the hard work and implementation of democratic reforms to ensure the
survival of the nation for the benefit of all citizens." PM
[17] SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH BACKS KOSTUNICA
The Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church issued a statement on 28
September to "Vojislav Kostunica, elected president of Yugoslavia," Reuters
reported. The bishops called on "Kostunica and all the people elected
together with him, when they take over the control of the state, its
parliament and its municipalities, to do so in a peaceful and dignified
way." On 26 September, Patriarch Pavle received Kostunica. The patriarch
said that "in the entire civilized world, governments are changed by the
will of the people, only in free and democratic elections," "Vesti"
reported. Pavle called on all Serbs, "including the army and the police, to
defend the interests of the people and state and not of individuals." PM
[18] U.S. TO LIFT SERBIAN SANCTIONS ONCE KOSTUNICA TAKES OFFICE
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke said in New York on 27
September that "if the winds of change blow true, a government in Belgrade
committed to respecting the will of its people will take its rightful place
in the international community," AP reported. Holbrooke added that
Washington will call for the lifting of international sanctions against
Belgrade once Kostunica takes office (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 27 September
2000). The ambassador also called for full voting rights for Yugoslavia in
the UN once the new government is in place. It is not clear if he intends
to restore the former Yugoslavia's seat to Belgrade, as Milosevic has
demanded, or require that Belgrade apply for membership as a new country,
as Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and Macedonia want it to do. Those four
republics demand a division of former Yugoslav properties and assets among
all successor states, while Milosevic says that the properties and assets
all belong to Belgrade as the sole legal heir to Josip Broz Tito's state.
In Washington on 27 September, U.S. President Bill Clinton charged that
Milosevic is seeking to steal the elections. PM
[19] CROATIA WARNS AGAINST LIFTING SERBIAN SANCTIONS
Attending the conference of the British Labour Party in Brighton, Croatian
Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on 27 September that a change of government
in Serbia will not come quickly or lead to the substantial policy changes
that followed the opposition victory in Croatia at the beginning of 2000,
VOA's Croatian Service reported (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 22 September
2000). In Zagreb, President Stipe Mesic stressed that sanctions should be
lifted only "when Yugoslavia fulfils what we have fulfilled, that is when
they pass a law on cooperation with the Hague tribunal, and when they hand
over war criminals to be tried by the tribunal. It was precisely the
sanctions that made the electorate turn against Milosevic," Reuters
reported. Mesic argued that Serbia cannot claim to have met European
standards so long as General Veselin Sljivancanin--whom the Hague-based
tribunal has indicted in conjunction with the murder of 200 Croats in
Vukovar in 1991--teaches at the Yugoslav military academy. PM
[20] KOUCHNER SAYS KOSOVA READY FOR ELECTIONS
Bernard Kouchner, who is the UN's chief civilian administrator in Kosova,
said at the UN in New York on 27 September that plans are progressing for
the local elections that will take place in the province on 28 October, an
RFE/RL correspondent reported. Kouchner said that he understands why most
Serbs do not want to participate but added that there will be elections in
the future in which they may choose to vote. Referring to the election of
Kostunica, Kouchner noted that Kosova's ethnic Albanians do not think that
there is much difference between him and Milosevic. The UN, Kouchner argued,
will find it easier to "talk to" Belgrade and local Serbs once Milosevic is
out of the way. Observers note that Kostunica, like Milosevic, has called
for a return of Kosova to Serbian control. PM
[21] MACEDONIA TO INVESTIGATE YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR
The government has launched an investigation into the "undiplomatic
activities" of Yugoslav Ambassador Zoran Janackovic, RFE/RL's South Slavic
Service reported on 27 September. The move comes in the wake of recent
Macedonian and British press reports to the effect that the ambassador, who
was a communist-era intelligence chief in Skopje, has been working with
Yugoslav Military Attache in Macedonia Colonel Predrag Stanisic, who also
has an intelligence background, "to destabilize Macedonia," the broadcast
added. Janackovic is reportedly one of the "few individuals in daily
communication with Milosevic." PM
[22] CORRUPTION SPREADS TO ROMANIAN UNIVERSITIES
Education Minister Andrei Marga has suspended the rectors of the private
Bucharest Ecological University and the state Iasi Medicine and
Pharmacology University, following evidence that the two institutes sold
diplomas to foreign students, RFE/RL's Bucharest bureau reported. The Iasi
university's Senate, however, rejected the minister's decision. A report
presented by the U.S.-based Transparency International organization at this
week's IMF/World Bank meeting in Prague places Romania among the post-
communist states with the highest level of corruption (of those states,
only Russia and Yugoslavia fared worse). The report asks whether "in view
of the massive level of corruption at every possible level of government in
these countries, should the World Bank continue to lend to these countries,
" an RFE/RL correspondent reported. MS
[23] ROMANIAN GYMNAST AT CENTER OF 'POLITICAL INDIGNATION'
The Court of Arbitration and Sport at the Sydney Olympic Games has rejected
gymnast Andrea Raducan's appeal not to deprive her of a gold medal AP
reported. Raducan had taken a banned drug in a medicine against colds. On
27 September Party of Social Democracy in Romania First Deputy Chairman
Adrian Nastase filed a protest with the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe; that protest was endorsed by 16 other members of the
Socialist group who represent eight countries. The National Liberal Party,
the Alliance for Romania, and the National Alliance denounced the decision.
Also on 27 September, protest meetings took place in several Romanian
towns. Nicolae Marasescu, general secretary of the Romanian Athletics
Federation, told Mediafax: "I am more and more convinced that Romania is a
[sore in the eye] of great economic and sports powers." MS
[24] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT SETS CONDITIONS FOR SECOND TERM
President Petar Stoyanov on 25 September told Bulgarian Radio that if he
decides to seek a second term in the fall 2001 elections, he will run as an
independent. At the same time, he will agree to run only if the ruling
Union of Democratic Forces coalition "clearly and strongly" supports him,
he added. But Stoyanov emphasized that to receive that endorsement he will
not "act under pressure, irrespective of [whether such pressure comes from
Premier] Ivan Kostov personally or any other politician." Until his terms
ends, he said, he will "make no compromise with either my conscience or the
oath I have taken to serve Bulgaria." MS
[25] OLYMPIC MEDAL COUNT--PART 2 COUNTRIES
Through 28 SEPTEMBER
CountryGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Romania104418 Ukraine37717
Belarus211013 Bulgaria53210
Poland4419
Hungary3216
Czech Rep.2136 Slovakia1315
Lithuania2024 Slovenia2002
Croatia1012 Latvia1012
Estonia0022 Moldova0101
Yugoslavia0101 Albania0000
Bosnia-Herzeg.0000 Macedonia0000
[C] END NOTE
[26] RUSSIA SPEAKS PAST BALTIC NEIGHBORS
By Christopher Walker
For Russia and its Baltic neighbors, a constructive dialogue is something
that has been sorely lacking for much of the decade since Latvia, Lithuania,
and Estonia reclaimed their independence. Over recent weeks, communication
with Moscow has degenerated to one of the lowest points in recent memory,
in particular with regard to Latvia and Estonia. During this period,
rhetorical shots have been fired from Moscow at Riga and Tallinn on a range
of issues.
Accusations and recriminations have been steadily exchanged between Moscow
and Tallinn over issues ranging from Russian allegations of Estonian
support for the Chechen rebels to ongoing border disputes and Russian
minority rights.
Among the issues drawing Russia's ire in its relations with Riga have been
the recent language law regulations that came into effect in Latvia earlier
this month. In fact, the state language law and respective government
regulations represent the culmination of more than a decade of legislative
effort on this issue. It was before the collapse of the Soviet Union in
1989 that Latvia, along with Estonia and Lithuania, first enacted important
legislative measures designed to protect its language. At that time, it had
appeared that the local language and culture in Latvia would be
extinguished. As a result of intensive Russification during the post-war
period, Latvians, through no choice of their own, had shrunk to near
minority status in their own homeland.
In Latvia, as in Estonia, Moscow has played the role of defender of the
Russian minority. The rhetoric between Riga and Moscow in the post-Soviet
era, a time during which Latvia amended and tightened the language law, has
been acerbic. To get around the lack of bilateral dialogue, the language
legislation, like a number of other high profile issues relating to
national minorities, has been managed in consultation with third parties.
In this case, the OSCE, along with the EU, played a vitally important role
in this process.
The OSCE has been operating in Latvia since 1993. The mandate of the OSCE
Mission to Latvia is to provide advice on citizenship issues and other
matters concerning the integration of Latvia's non-citizen population into
the mainstream of Latvian society. Indeed, the OSCE mission in Latvia has
functioned as an indispensable tool for handling sensitive matters between
Russia and the Baltic states. The missions have provided an important
mechanism for responding to Russian accusations against the Baltic
countries, especially with regard to questions of ethnic Russians residing
in the Baltics.
On the language law in Latvia, OSCE High Commissioner on National
Minorities Max van der Stoel has said he views the regulations "as being
essentially in conformity with both the law and Latvia's international
obligations." He noted that "virtually all of [his] recommendations were
accepted by the government in the drafting process." Van der Stoel added
that Latvia still needs to fine tune the regulations further in some areas,
and he expressed the hope that the law will be implemented in the "spirit
of an open and liberal democracy."
Following the approval of the language law regulations, Russia's Foreign
Ministry issued a statement saying that they constitute "yet another
legislative enactment...in Latvia aimed at discrimination against and the
assimilation of the national minorities." Undersecretary of State Ivars
Pundurs of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs countered that "it is
complete rubbish to say the Russian language will be assimilated [in
Latvia]. Huge and influential Russia is right next door and Russian media
plays a large role here."
Latvians are clearly frustrated by the relentless stream of criticism from
Moscow. Pundurs, who describes Russia as an "unwilling partner," observes:
"If you look back over the last 10 years, Moscow has been critical about
language, education, citizenship, and other issues. Moscow has never been
constructive. They only say that Russians have been treated unfairly."
Not content with devoting considerable attention to the Russian minority
in the Baltics, Moscow has recently trained its rhetorical guns on Ukraine,
a country where 11 million of the 25 million ethnic Russians now living
outside Russia's borders reside. Following a meeting in Moscow with OSCE
High Commissioner on National Minorities van der Stoel on 14 September,
Russian Nationalities Minister Alexander Blokhin leveled criticism at Kyiv,
complaining that Ukraine's treatment of Russian-speakers is the worst in
the Newly Independent States.
Ironically, it was Moscow's own Soviet system of preference for placing
ethnicity before citizenship that contributed heavily to the difficult
state of affairs today in the Baltics and other post-Soviet states. Latvian
diplomats, for their part, speculate on whether Russia's behavior toward
the Baltics is a calculated policy of obstruction or a result of its
inability to manage its own affairs.
At a time when Moscow is dealing with one crisis after another --the
"Kursk" tragedy, the Ostankino fire, the Pushkin Square bombing, not to
mention the ongoing horrors in Chechnya--and when President Vladimir Putin
is making a monumental effort to regain control of far-flung Russian
regions, it seems unlikely Russia will be prepared to deal with the Baltics
with magnanimity anytime soon. Latvian Undersecretary of State Pundurs
recently suggested that Russia has yet to get over its "post-Imperial
hangover."
The author is a New York-based analyst specializing in European affairs.
28-09-00
Reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
URL: http://www.rferl.org
|
